Closed sports halls and canceled matches meant that the sports movement lost practitioners during the pandemic. In the north, more young athletes disappeared than elsewhere. Spontaneous sports at night are a way to attract young people back. It is bright in Tunaskolan’s sports hall in Luleå on a late Friday evening. It’s night sports – an initiative started by the sports association in Norrbotten but now run by Luleå municipality. And the sports halls open at night are expected to increase shortly. – I think it’s quite fun to be with friends and play football, says 13-year-old Aptin Parvin who, together with 50 others, is on site in Tunahallen in Luleå this Friday evening. Instead of gaming What would you be doing if you weren’t here tonight? – I think I would actually sit at home and play computer games, explains Aptin Parvin. Four percent fewer participants per occasion in 2022 is a decline in sports compared to before the pandemic. In the north, the reduction was even greater – 13 percent. At most, sports in Norrbotten lost almost every third practitioner. Difficulty switching to outdoor activities due to climate and long distances are believed to be causes. Various sports associations are invited to the night sports in Luleå to attract interested people. – Maybe an interest in sports and moving around will be awakened and then we can channel them further into association life this way, says Jakob Boudin, Norrbotten sports association. Instead of busses in town Night-open sports halls can be found in some other locations. And from the parents’ side, the tone is positive. – The children today are far too sedentary and it is important that the children move and not hang out in town on Friday evenings and come up with stupid things, says the parent Maria Sandling, who picks up her son and friends at Tunahallen just before midnight.
t4-general
After the pandemic drop – night sports should attract young people back
